Martinis and Popcorn: Russell Brand on Top with ‘Hop’ and ‘Arthur’

With Hop a jump ahead in last week’s box office debuts, Brand’s newest flick Arthur will almost guarantee that he has a number one film for a second week in a row. The remake of the 1981 comedy, which also stars Helen Mirren and Jennifer Garner, will not be that number one film. It is, however, a rather perfect fit for Brand (Arthur is a spoiled, rich kid) and he’s damn lucky Mirren is Hollywood gold and humored him by signing on.

This weekend’s releases are practically handing the number one title to Hop and Brand without a fight. A mixed bag of tricks, Your Highness, Soul Surfer and Hanna will easily divvy up the competition.

The new stoner film Your Highness reunites James Franco and Danny McBride and throws in Natalie Portman for good measure. The premises of the film is still unknown to me, but the fact that it’s the only film rated ‘R’ in theaters this weekend might be the key selling point… that and the popcorn, which I will be craving.

The commercial alone for Soul Surferis inspiring! Sony Pictures’ Tri Star knew what it was going for when they casted AnnaSophia Robb as the teenage surfer who’s arm was bitten off by a shark and overcame it all in this bioptic film.

Lastly, Hanna stars Saoirse Ronan as a teenage girl raised in the wilderness, who’s father (ex-CIA agent) trained her to be the perfect natural born assassin and will be the only action film in theaters, grossing most of it’s ticket sales overseas.